Artificial fog production



y 4, 1944. A. a. AANDERSON EI'AL 2,352,577

ARTIFICIAL FOG PRODUCTION Fi ld Nov. 10, 1942 fnajerzhrs 75207; 61d mr'avrz/ mam 5:267

Patented July 4, 1944 ARTIFICIAL FOG PRODUCTION Anton G. Anderson, Arlington, and Thomas S. Derr. Newton, Mam, minors or one-third to American Steam Automobile Company, Middlesex County, Masa, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 10, 1942, Serial No. 465.15 2 1o cunts. (Cl. 252-259) This invention relates to the production of an artificial tog or smoke or finely divided liquid or solid material for use as a screen or for any other purpose, the objects being to produce a fog rapidly, extensively and at low cost, without risk of fire or explosion and with material which'is inexpensive and readily available in large quantitles and, which is harmless to men and equipment, to start the production of the fog on short notice, to produce a fog of any desired color, and quickly to change the color the fog.

- According to the present invention the fog producing apparatus comprises a conduit through which a stream 01' gaseous fluid may flow, the

conduit having a restricted annular passageway and peripheral orifices entering the conduit tangentially near the exit end of the passageway, together with means for introducing finely divided solid material intothe stream in advance oi the passageway and means for introducing gaseous fluid through the aforesaid orifices, thereby to atomize or disperse the material and to thoroughly mix it with the stream andimpart a spiral motion to the stream. The means for introducing the finely divided solid material into the aforesaid stream preferably comprises a nozzle from which gaseous fluid issues at high velocity, together with a hopper or other suitable means for delivering.

the material into the high velocity Jet issuing from the nozzle. The aforesaid annular passageway is preferably formed by a baffle mounted in the passageway with its apex directed toward the nozzle and its base spaced closely to the inner periphery of the conduit. The aforesaid orifices may have any desired degree of circumferential inclination so long as they have a tangential com- 7 ponent, and they may also be inclined in either direction relative to planes perpendicular to the axis of the conduit. Beyond the orifices the conduit may be provided with peripheral openings through which unatomized particles are thrown by centrifugal force, and means may be provided for returning these undispersed particles to the conduit in advance or the aforesaid passageway so that they may again be subjected to the atomizing or dispersing action of the jets issuin through the tangential orifices.

The gaseous fluid may comprise compressed air or other gas-or vapor under pressure or steam preferably superheated. For example with steam at 200 lbs. per square inch pressure and 100 F. total temperature ground clay may be dispersed of steam used. Good results may also be ob- 5 lbs. per square inch. Clay, sort coal and salt are some of the many materials which may be dispersed in the steam or gas according to the present invention.

For the purpose of illustration a typical'embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section on line 1-3 of'Flg. l.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a conduit I having an enlarged portion 2, a nozale 3 located in the smaller portion i, and a hopper 4 from which powdered or granular material may be fed through the outlet 5 to the conduit I in the region of the nozzle '3. Mount-. ed in the larger portion '2 of the conduit coaxially with the conduit is a conical baille 6 which is held in place by spaced lugs I with its apex directed toward the nozzle 3 and with a restricted annular passageway 8 between the edge of its base and the inner periphery of the larger portion 2' 01' the conduit. Beyond the baiile {the conduit is provided with orifices 9 which enter the conduit tangentially as shown in Fig. 2. These orifices may be circular or in the form of slots as shown in Fig. 1. Surrounding the conduit over the orifices is a casing l0 through which the ,superheated steam or other gaseous fluid may be introduced. duit maybe provided with circumferential slots ll through which undispersed particles may escape. Surrounding the conduit in the region of bafile I at considerable velocity, thereby breaking up the particles more finely. The finely divided particles are then carried through the an-' nular passageway I in the form 01' a cylindrical stream. As this stream issues from the passageway it is acted upon by the jets of gaseous fluid I tangentially through the orifices 9. Thus the m with compressed air at a pressure of about '65 particles are eflectively dispersed and mixed l I in the steam at the rate oi 1 1b. of clay per -2 lbs.

Beyond the orifices 9 the conon each other and on the conduit under the influence of the jets. However, if any particles remain undispersed they are thrown outwardly through the slots ii by the centrifugal force of I the rotating stream The slots ii are preferably locatednear the exit end of the conduit 2 where the fluid pressure is considerably'reduced. but of course some fluid will also escape through the slots. This escaping fluid may be sufllcient to carry the particles back to the conduit i, but if not additional fluid may he admitted through the inlets ll tohelp the circulation. The particles' are apt to be electrified by their friction against the wallof the apparatus, which electriflcation assists in their dispersion due to their mutual electrical repulsion.

From the foregoing the exit end of the conduit 2 at almost the mo-.

ment fluid is admitted to the nozzle 8, that the stream of fog will issue rapidly and quickly. spread over a wide area. that the color of the log may be regulated by choosin solid material of the desired hue, and that the color of the log T may be changed on short notice by feeding materlal having a diflerent color into the hopper i.

By providing an extension on the outlet end of the conduit 2 the device may also be used as a howler or'siren, and by making the extension movable the amount of noise may be changed. For example, the extension may be pivoted to swing to one side-or it may telescope into or over the conduit. As shown in Fig. l, the outlet end of the conduit 2 may be somewhat restricted to deflect the peripheral portion of the stream toward the axis of the conduit.

It should be understood that the present disa closure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

we claim:

1. Apparatus for producing'artiilcial i'og com- I prising a conduit having a reduced portion merging with an enlarged portion through which a "stream of gaseous fluid may how, the enlarged portion of said conduit containing a conical bat-'- fie with its apex directed toward the reduced portion of the conduit and forming a restricted passageway around its base, the conduit also hav- .ing peripheral orifices entering. the conduit tangentially near the exit end of the passageway,

stream of gaseous fluid may flow, the enlarged portion of said conduit containing a-conical baffie with its apex directed toward the reduced portion of the conduit and forming a restricted passageway around its base, the conduit also havperipheral orifices entering the conduit tan- '7 assae'rr gentially near the exit end of the passageway, a nozzle in advance of the conical baiile for introducing gaseous fluid into the conduit to produce said stream, means associated with the noszle for introducing pulverized material into said stream, and means for introducing gaseous fluid at high velocity through said orifices whereby to disperse said material, in and thoroughly mix it with said stream and to impart a spiral motion to the stream.

3.. Apparatus for producing artificial fog comprising a conduit through which a stream of gaseous fluid may flow, the conduit having a restricted annular passageway and peripheral oriflces entering the conduit tangentially near the exit end of the passageway, means !or introducing pulverized material into said stream in advance of the passageway, means for introducing gaseous fluid at high velocity through said orifices to disperse said material in and thoroughly mix it with said stream and to impart a spiral motion to the stream, said conduit having peripheral j openings beyond said orifices through which 'unit will be evident that the artificial log or smoke will begin to issue from dispersed particles are thrown by centrifugal force, and means for conducting the undlspersed particles away from said orifices.

4. Apparatus for producing artificial fog com- I prising a conduit through which a stream of aseous fluid may flow, the conduit having a restricted annular passageway and peripheral orifi'ces entering the conduit tangentially near the exit end of the passageway, a nozzle in advance of the passageway for introducing gaseous fluid into the conduit to produce said stream,'means associated with the nomle for introducing pulverized material into the stream, means for introducing gaseous fluid at high velocity throughsaid orifices to disperse said material in and thoroughly mix it with said stream and to impart a spiral motion to the stream, said conduit .having peripheral openings beyond said orifices through which undispersed particles are thrown by centrifugal force, and means for conducting the undispersed particles away from said orifices.

5. Apparatus for producing artificial fog comprising a conduit through which a stream of gaseous fluid may flow, the conduit containing a conical baille with its apex directed toward the,

entrance and of the conduit and forming a restricted passageway around its base, the conduit also having peripheral orifices entering the con- .duit tangentially near the exit end of the passageway, means for'introducing pulverized material into said stream in advance of the conical baii'ie; means for introducing gaseous fluid at high velocity through said orifices to disperse said material in and thoroughly mix it with said stream and to impart a spiral motion to the stream, said conduit having peripheral openings beyond said orifices through which undispersed particles are thrown by centrifugal iorce, and means for conducting the undispersed particles away from said orifices.

, 6. Apparatus for producing artificial fog comprising a conduit through whicha stream of gaseous fluid may flow, the conduit containing a conical battle with its apex directed. toward the entrance end oi'the conduit and forming a restricted passageway around its base, the' conduit also having peripheral orifices entering the conduit-tangentially near'the exit end of the passageway, a nozzle in advance of the conical into said stream, means for introducing gaseous fluid at high velocity through said orifices to disperse said material in and thoroughly mix it with said stream and to imparta spiral motion to the stream, said conduit having peripheral openings beyond said orifices through which undispersed particles are thrown by' centrifugal force, and means for conducting the undispersed particles away from said orifices.

7. Apparatus for producing artificial fog comprising a conduit through which a stream of gaseous fluid may flow, the conduit having a restricted annular passageway and peripheral orifices entering the conduit tangentially near the exit end of the passageway, means for introducing solid material into said stream in advance of the passageway, means for introducing gaseous fluid at high velocity through said orifices to disperse said material in and thoroughly mix it with said stream and to impart a spiral motion to the stream, said conduit having peripheral openings beyond said orifices through which undispersed particles are thrown by centrifugal force, and means for returning said undispersed particles to the conduit in advance of said passageway.

8. Apparatus for producing artificial fog comprising a conduit through which a stream of gaseous fluid may flow, the conduit having a restricted annular passageway and peripheral orifices entering the conduit tangentially near the exit end of the passageway, a nozzle in advance of the passageway for introducing gaseous fluid into the conduit to produce said stream, means associated with the nozzle for introducing pulverized material into the stream, means for introducing gaseous fluid at high velocity through said orifices to disperse said material in and 9. Apparatus for producing artificial fog comprising a conduit through which a stream of gaseous fluid may flow, the conduit containing a conical bafliewith its apex directed toward the entrance end of the conduit and forming a restricted passageway around its base, the conduit also having peripheral orifices entering the, conduit tangentially near the exitend of the passageway, means for introducing pulverized material into said stream in advance of the conical baflie, means for introducing gaseous fluid at high velocity through said orifices to disperse said material in and thoroughly mix it with said stream and to-impart a spiral motion to the stream, said conduit having peripheral openings beyond said orifices through whichundispersed particles are thrown by centrifugal force, and means for returning said undispersed particles to the conduit in advance of said passagethoroughly mix it with said stream and to impart way.

10, Apparatus for producing artificial fog comprising a conduit through which a stream of gaseous fluid may flow, the conduit containing a conical baiiie with its apex directed toward the entrance end of the conduit and forming a restricted passageway around its base, the conduit also having peripheral orifices entering the conduit tangentially near the exit end of the passageway, a nozzle in" advance of the conical ballie for introducing gaseous fluid into the conduit to produce said stream, meansassociated with the nozzle for introducing pulverized material into said stream, means for introducing gaseous fluid at high velocity through said orifices to disperse said material in and thoroughly mix it with-said stream and to impart a spiral motion to the stream, said conduit having peripheral openings beyond said orifices through which undispersed THOMAS S. DERR. ANTON G. ANDERSON. 

